Control for fluid containers



May 29, 1928. V 1571,1369

c. s. JOHANN I I CONTROL FOR FLUID CONTAINERS I Filed Jan. 18, 1926 IN VENTOR.

' Patented May 29', 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,671,369- PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESS. JOHANN, OF MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GO, FIRE EQUIP-' MEN'I. 00., OF LOS AN GELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CONTROL FOR FLUID CONTAINERS.

Application filed January 18, 1926. Serial No.'81,972.

This invention relates to a control for fluid containers or the like, and it is particularly uizeful as applied to gas containers and the li e. g

Gases of various kinds are stored under pressure in containers equipped with means wherebythe gas may be allowed to escape as desired. My present invention relates to a control device suitable for gas containers and the like, operable to open the containers to, allow the contents to escape therefrom.-

It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the control of any particular gas or fluid or to the gas or I fluid being used for any particular purpose.

The device which is the subject of this application is of the same general character and for the same general purposes as the device which is the subject of my co-pending,

application entitled Fluid control device,

filed December 22, 1925, Serial No. 77,164.

It is an object of my invention to provide a control device of the character mentioned which is simple in construction and reliable in operatio It is a further object of my invention to provide a control device of the character mentioned which is simple and compact and which employs a wei ht as power for ef- 30 footing the opening 0 the container.

The various objects and featureslof my invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form of the invention in which the figure is a vertical detailed sectional view of the device provided by this invention showing it in operating position on the container.

The device provided by my invention is applicable to or suitable for operation in connection with containers of various styles and constructions and containers handling various fluids. I have, for sake of example,

. shown the device applied to a typical form 4 of gas container 10 which is provided with a neck fitting 11 having threaded part 12 of small diameter and a threaded part 13 of large diameter. The container is provided with a cap 14 which screw threads onto the part 12 of small diameter. The cap 14 is provided in its end with an opemng 1 5 closed by a metal plate 16 adapted tofail upon excessive pressure occurring in the container, or to be broken by a punch or the like inserted through the opemng 15.

The control device provided by this invention includes, generally, a body 20 attachable to the container 10,- a punch 21, a carrier 22 forthe punch holding it in position to operate on the plate 16, a weight 60 23 for actuating the punch, catch means 24 for releasably holding the weightin a suspended position, and electromagnetic control means 25 for the catch means 24.

The body 20 may be in the form of a tube mounted on the container 10 through a suitable fitting 26 and is closed at its upper end by a cap 27.

The punch 21 is preferably in the form of a rod round in cross section, having its lower 70 end truncated at an angle so that it isefi'ective in piercing or penetrating the plate 16. The punch is provided with a central'longitudinal opening 30 which communicates with lateral ports 31 in the. upper end portion of the punch. In using the term punch I mean to include any device or means which may be used in the construction provided by my invention for penetrating or fracturing the plate which seals the container, and I do not mean to specifically limit myself to a part or device having specifically a cutting action.

The guide 22 for-the punch slidablv carrice the punch, and in the form of the invention shown in the drawings is applied to the cap 14 so that the punch is supported in position to operate on the plate 16. I have shown the guide 22 screw threaded on the projection 32 on the top of the cap. A flange 33 may be provided on the upper end portion of the punch to limit the downward movement of the punch in the guide.

The weight 23 is slidably mounted in the body 20 so that it is normally spaced above the upper end of the punch and so that it can be released to drop into engagement with the punch to drive it through the plate 16. The weight may, of course, be varied in size and construction to'properly accommodate the other'parts of the construction.

The catch means 24 provided for releasably holding the weight 23 in' a suspended. position may include one or more'levers 40 carried on pivot pins 41 to ieleasably sup- 9 port a head 42 on a stem 43 that extends upwardly from, the weight. In the construction shown in the drawings the levers'40 carry rollers 45 that engage under the head 42; The levers extend upwardly above the head no 42to present parts to be enga electromagnetic control means erelnafter described. Suitable springs 16 may be pro- 4 plate 16 belng vided to normally yieldingly hold the levers in position where the rollers engage under the head 42 to hold it.

The electromagnetic control means may include a solenoid device comprising a winding stationary in .the body 20, and a core 51 movable to engage the upper end poras indicated by the arrows in the drawlngs so that the rollers are released from the head 42'. The winding 50 is carried in a.

housing 50? and is supported from the cap 27 through means 50". The core 51 is normally held in an up or unactuated position by a spring 52 interposed between the housing '50 and ahead 54 on the stem at a point above the winding. The spring 52 is a comparatively light spring, only sufliciently strong to hold the core in an unactuate'd position. Suitable electrical connections may be made with the winding 50 from the exterior of the body through winding posts 58 in the cap 27. A rod 60 may extend upwardly from theup or end of the core- 51 through the cap 2; to present a part at the exterior of the body whereby the core can be manually operated to release the catch means 24.

The body'20 may be provided with openings to allow fluid from the container-to escape freel into the atmosphere u on the broken, or it may be provided at a sultable point, for instance at a pointnear its, lower end, with an outlet opening 62 through which the fluid-may be passed to a suitable conduit. In the construction shownin the drawings the levers 40 are mounted on a partition held between sleeves 40 which are held between the housin 50 and fitting 26. Y

n operation the device is normally applied to a container 10 with the parts .in

an unactuated condition as shown in the drawing. The .winding of the solenoid is connected in a suitable actuating circuit controlled in any suitable manner, for instance through suitable remote control. Upon ener- 'gizing the winding 50 in the proper manner, the core 51 is moved downwardly to engage and release the levers 40, allowing the weight 23 to drop and drive the punc 21 through the plate .16. This allows the fluid to escape from the container into the body to escape therefrom or to be conducted through-the opening 62. To operate the de- "vice independent of the electromagnetic con trol, the rod 60 may be depressed forcing the core 51 downwardly to release the levers 40 and thus cause operation of the device as just described.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention I do not wish to limit ed by. the

myself to the specific details set forth, but WlSh to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the follow- ,ing claims:

fluid outlet, about said discharge member, a

closure r'or the discharge member including a sealing disk extending across the bore thereof, a punch within the casing having its lower end adjacent said sealing disk, the punch having a bore extending through its lower end and provided with a lateralopening within the casing above the outer end of the discharge member of the container, a weight within the casing above the punch, means for normally sustainingthe weight in an elevated position above the punch, and means for disengaging the weight from the sustaining means and permitting it to fall upon the punch and cause the latter to penetrate the sealing disk.

2. The combination of a container for fluid under pressure comprising a body havtainer, a stop on the punch adapted to co- I operate with means on the discharge member to limit downward movement of the punch, a weight within the casing above the punch, means for normally sustaining the weight in an elevated position above the punch, and means for disengaging the weight from the sustaining means and permittmg it to fall upon the punch and cause the latter to penetrate the sealing disk.

3. The combination of a container for fluid under pressure comprising a body having a discharge member projecting upward therefrom, a casing supported on the container and forming a chamber, provided with a fluid outlet, about said discharge member, a closure for the discharge member including a sealing disk" extending across the bore thereof, a punch within the casing having its lower end adjacent said sealing disk, the punch having a bore extending through its lower end and provided with a lateral projection adapted to cooperate with means on the container dischargemember to.

. limit downward movement of thepunch, and having beyond said projection a lateral opening into the casing, a weight within the casing above the punch, means for normally sustaining the weight in an elevated position above the punch, and means for disengaging the weight from the sustaining means and permitting it to fall upon the punch and cause the latter to penetrate the sealing disk.

4. The combination of a container for fluid under pressure comprising a body having a discharge member projecting upward therefrom, a casing supported on the container and forming a chamber, provided with a fluid outlet, about said discharge member,

a closure for the discharge member including a sealing disk extending across the bore thereof, a punch within the casing having lower end and provided with a lateral opening within the casin above the outer end of the discharge mem I r of the container, a

weight within the casing above the punch, means for normally sustainin the weight in an elevated position above t e punch, and electro-magnetic means within the casing for disengaging the weight from the sustaining means and permitting it to fall upon the punch and-cause the latter to penetrate the sealing disk.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th 'day of J an., 1926.

CHARLES s. JOHANN. 

